Painting the Town Red

Location

Country: India
City: New Delhi
Place: British High Commission

'Painting the Town Red' distinctively blends aspects of traditional Indian and contemporary British cultures. It depicts the victorious homecoming of the Liverpool football team set amid the occasion of the city's 'Tall Ships Festival', with decorative boats gliding on the waves of the river Mersey. Iconic buildings of the city, including the Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals and the 'mushroom' tower, line the horizon. This work by the Singh Twins (Amrit and Rabindra Kaur Singh) illustrates the overwhelming popularity of football as Liverpudlians of all nationalities and ages unite to celebrate the event.

Originally commissioned for a football-themed exhibition to coincide with the European Championships in 1996, this work is inspired by the style and composition of traditional Mughal miniature painting. Features such as its vertical, hierarchical structure of figures, and its decorative floral border are typical of Court scenes in Persian and Mughal miniatures.

Places

England, Liverpool: Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, Merseyside, River Mersey

Subjects

life belt, horseback, bus, helicopter, camera, drinking, football, swimming, topography, townscape/cityscape, fish, horse, cloud, river bank, river, boy, baby, girl, 20th century costume, scarf, BBC, balloon, clock, cup, flag, banner (as Subject), police officer, ice cream, church, cathedral, spire, sailboat, tug boat

Materials & Techniques

gold dust, paper (as artists material), poster paint, gouache (as artists material), mixed media (art object)

Artist

The Singh Twins

Title

Painting the Town Red

Date

1996

Medium

Poster paint, gouache and gold dust on paper

Dimensions

width: 17.50 cm, height: 29.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from the artists, May 2005

Inscription

on front of bus ul: AKDK.S 96

GAC number

18022